Re: [T3] maybe the world isn't so bad

[Jim Adney <jadney@vwtype3.org>]

On 29 Jul 2002, at 21:36, Dave Hall wrote:

> It's worth appreciating that if it's only the generator, a freshly charged
> battery can take you quite a way unless you need lights, particularly for a
> carbed motor; the coil only needs a couple of amps for the spark and a bit to
> keep the auto-choke open.  I ran my Variant quite a distance when the regulator
> failed, even with lights for part of the time.  I guess this may be something
> where the carbed version would do better than the FI though, which needs more
> electrical power and would probably begin running roughly after a little while.

I had always thought the same thing, but a few years ago my generator belt 
broke just outside of Chicago. I was already on my way home, so I decided 
to see how far I could get, on the theory that the closer I got to home the 
more likely I would be to get my wife to bring me a belt and my tools.  

150 miles and 3 hours of warm daytime driving later, I pulled up into my 
driveway, still under my own power. I hadn't used the lights, radio, or wipers, 
but I was still surprised that it made it all the way. As a test, I tried the 
starter after I had shut down in the driveway and the engine started up 
instantly. I don't think it was at all close to its limit.

The battery was just a very standard Sears group 42 DieHard.

-
Jim Adney
jadney@vwtype3.org
Madison, WI 53711-3054
USA

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